Combined chair and step-ladder



(No Model.)

0. BOOKENHEUSER. COMBINED CHAIR AND STEP LADDER.

No. 395,539. Patented Jan. 1, 1889.

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CHRISTIAN ROCKENIIEUSER, OF KENOSIIA, \VISOONSIN.

COMBiNED CHAIR AND STEF -LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,539, dated January 1, 1889.

erial No. 270,892- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN BoOKEN- HEUSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of Ivisconsimhave invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Chair, StepLadder, lVash Bench, and D rying-Rack, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin a combined chair, step-ladder, Washbench, and drying-rack; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention when folded to form a chair. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same when arranged to form a stepladder. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my invention when arranged to form awaslrbench. Fig. at is a similar view of the same when arranged to form a drying-rack.

A B represent a pair of frames, each of which comprises a pair of side boards, A and B, respectively, the said side boards having their inner edges notched to form steps, as shown, and being connected by step-boards C. One end of frame A is covered by a board, D, and the side boards, A, of said frame are reduced and extended beyond one end thereof to form arms E, which have their outer ends curved outward, as shown, said arms being connected at suitable regular distances by cross-rods F.

G represents the frame, which is pivoted or hinged on the projecting ends of the outer rod, F, and comprises a pair of bars, H, which are connected by means of cross-rods I.

K represents apair of metallic straps, which are secured to the sides of the frame A, at one corner thereof, and project beyond the same, and have their extended ends pivoted to frame B, as shown, whereby said frame B may be folded against the frame A or may be extended therefrom. Said flame B is provided at a suitable distance from its pivotal end and near its outer side with aligned openin L, an d is further provi dcd with openings M N, which are equally distant from the openings L.

0 represents a frame which is similar to frame G, and is pivoted to the end of frame A which is opposite the arms E. Said frame A is provided near its inner edge with openings P.

R represents a pair of links, which are pivotally connected to the frames G, near the outer ends thereof, and have their free ends bent at right angles and adapted to engage either of the openings L, N, or M in frame 1: and S represents a pair of similar links, which are pivotally connected to the frame 0, and have their free ends also bent at right angles, and thereby adaptedto en gage the openings in the hinged or pivoted frames.

The operation of my invention is follows:

In order to form a chair the frames A B are folded together so that the steps are arranged on the inner opposing edges of said frames. The frame 0 is folded up on the rear side of frame A, and the frame G is folded down on the rear side of the extensions E, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to convert the device into a-step ladder, the frame A is turned on its pivots and extended from the frame B in a diagonal direction and reversed, so as to cause the lower ends of its arms E to bear upon the floor or ground. The frame G is folded up against the outer sides of the arms E, and the links S, pivoted to said frame, are caused to engage the openings L of frame B. The frame 0 is extended in a vertical direction from the frame A and is supported in a vertical posi tion by engaging the free ends of the link R with the openings P, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to arrange the device to form a wash-bench, the frames A and B are folded together and are caused to bear upon the floor or ground so as to arrange the arms E in a horizontal position, the frame G is turned downward from the outer ends of said arms, the free ends of the links S are caused to engage openings near the outer ends of the arms E, the frame 0 is extended in a horizontal position from the opposite end of the frame A, and the links R are caused to engage the openings M of frame A, as shown in 1 big. o.

A, and is secured by engaging the free ends of linksSby the openings, as before described, of arms E, as shown in Fig. 4.

A convertible chair, step-ladder, washbench, and drying-rack thus constructed is extremely cheap and simple, is light and portable, is strongand durable, and will be found of great practical utility.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the frames A B,

hinged together and having the notched steps formed on their opposing sides, said frame A having the extending-arms E, the frame G,

pivoted to the outer ends of arms E, and the frame 0, pivoted to the opposite end of frame A, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the frames A B, hinged or pivoted together at one corner and provided with the notched steps, as described, said frame A having the arms E and provided with the openings P, and said frame B having the openings L M N, the frame G, hinged or pivoted to the outer ends of arms E and having the links R, and the frames 0, hinged or pivot-ed to the opposite end of frame A and having the links, all combined and arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as m y own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN BOCKENHEUSER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES QUARLES, JAMES CAVANAGH. 

